The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-11-09
ANOTHER ACCIDENT IN THE MILK
RIVER VALLEY.
Two Lives Lost--Live Stock Agent $. W
Powers one of the Killed.

Fort Benton was startled on Sunday |
morning to learn that the two cattle trains |
which left here Saturday 5ening had met |
with serious accident about 3 o'clock |
valley, 100 miles east Of Fort Benton. It
is impossible to get full details until some
one who was at the scene can be inter
viewed. The rules of all railroad compa-
publication any information relative to
accidents on theroad. From other sources
we are enabled to gather the following
history of the affair, which, as far as it
goes, may be relied upon to be correct:
About p. m. the last train load OF
Shonkin cattle, consisting of sixteen cars
of John Lepleys and J, FL. Green's cattle,
three cars of Chas. Fish's and five cars of
c. w. Prices cattle pulled out from the
Sandy stock yards on it's way east. At Z
p. m. train of twenty-four cars of Judith
cattle from the Benton stock yards passed
Sandy Station and stopped for short
beyond the station and took water.
To this train was attached the fated ca
boose, which was not many hours after
wards smashed to pieces, resulting IN the
death of two of it's occupants. Among
those in the caboose we're S. S. Hobson, Of
Utica, Mr.. George Barrows and nephew,
Of the judith, Mr.. VIM. Gray, ST. Paul
agent of the Burlington & Northern, Mr..
| S. W. Powers, general stock agent OF the
Manitoba, and others whose names we
could not learn. At o'clock p. m the
last train of Judith cattle consisting Of
seventeen cars passed Sandy Station, run
ming at the rate of about twenty-five miles
an hour, without stopping either at the
station or water tank Running at the
same rate of speed it would take this train
about six hours to reach Saco Station, 80
miles further on. This was the train that
crashed into the rear of the train men
toned and demolished the caboose. The
history of the running of these trains is as
follows: The engine of the train which
left Sandy at 6. p. m., it is said became
somewhat disabled; the train which pass
cd Sandy at p. m. caught up with it and
assisted in pushing 1t along, and the two
trains reached Saco in fair time without
accident at a. m. Sunday morning, and
stopped for water. A hagman was dropped
off as the trains reached the station, who
started around the curve to signal any ap-
preaching train. It appears that he was
too late, for the third train was coming
around the curve when he started, and
could not be stopped in time to prevent
the disaster. The locomotive crashed into
the caboose, it is supposed while the occu-
pants were asleep, and made wreck of it
and two Of the cattle cars to which it was
attached. The cook of the caboose, ]. M.
Brewster, was instantly killed One of
the brakemen, name unknown, was badly
injured and Stock Agent S. W. Powers
had one of his legs mashed off, and was
otherwise so badly bruised that he died
in few hours. If any others we're injur-
ed the fact is not known in Fort Benton.
We understaed that telegram was re-
ceived in Benton to-day assuring the
friends of S. S. Hobson of his safety. If
any others than those mentioned had
been hurt their friends would have learned
it before this time by wire.
Mr.. S. w. Powers death is to be re-
gretted. He was a most excellent and
valuable officer, and one who was highly
respected and much liked by all who
knew him. He had left the employ of the
Union Pacific but this season to accept a
position with the NJ. & NJ. Ry. For the
last week he had been much distressed by
the news of his wife and child's serious
illness in Nebraska. He had just finished
up his ardous work here, and, in answer
to dispatch from his wife, asking when
he would be home he replied on Saturday
afternoon that he would soon be with her,
and that he was then on the way. It is
indeed sad to contemplate with what a
longing heart the widowed wife with her
fatherless child will look for the husband
whom she will never see again. There are
no means Of ascertaining at the present
time who, if any one, is responsible for
this disaster. The accident occurred on
an Indian reservation, and, we presume is
without doubt within the boundaries of
Dawson county. Being SO far away from
the settlements it is question whether
the Dawson county authorities will cause
a coroner's inquest to be held or not.
Still Climbing.
We find one of our exchanges la1nenting